No action over Totnes 'baking soda' cancer doctor

Officials say no action will be taken against the organisers of a Devon event at which an ex-doctor was due to talk about treating cancer with baking soda.

Struck-off Italian oncologist Tullio Simoncini was invited by the Arcturus Clinic to speak about alternative cancer treatments in Totnes.

Following complaints, Mr Simoncini's talk in March was cancelled.

Trading Standards said the event breached the Cancer Act 1939, and Arcturus Clinic would be monitored.

Mr Simoncini was invited to the Totnes Cancer Care conference as one of 11 speakers talking about alternative care for cancer patients.

Trading Standards said the organiser of the event and manager of Arcturus Clinic, Dr Stephen Hopwood, had breached the Cancer Act by publishing information to "offer to treat any person for cancer" and offering treatment advice involving sodium bicarbonate.

Dr Hopwood, a former GP who now describes himself as a "holistic physician" and runs the Arcturus Clinic, said the situation was a "misunderstanding".

The letter from Trading Standards advised Dr Hopwood that any further contraventions would result in "formal action".